Fans pick Clarke, Abell and Bamber in county team of the season
County cricket fans have picked their team of the 2026 season, and batters Joe Clarke and Tom Abell lead an XI full of runs and wickets.
BBC Sport asked readers to choose two openers, three middle-order batters, one wicketkeeper, two all-rounders, two pace bowlers and one spinner. The invitation went out on 23 September, and the final side was published on 30 September BBC.
The openers — the two batters who face the new ball first — are Ricardo Vasconcelos of Northamptonshire and Ben McKinney of Durham. Vasconcelos took 38% of the vote after finishing as the leading scorer in Division Two with 1,159 runs and six centuries. McKinney took 31% after scoring 1,044 runs at an average above 50, including a career-best 244 against Gloucestershire.
The middle order is stacked. Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke polled 31% after finishing as the country’s leading run-scorer with 1,288 runs, four centuries and six fifties. Somerset’s Tom Abell polled 19% after making 1,287 runs at 71.5, including a season-high 307 against Surrey. Durham’s David Bedingham completes the trio on 18%.
The closest call came behind the stumps. Gloucestershire’s James Bracey — the gloved catcher tasked with stops, catches and stumpings — took the wicketkeeper spot with 44% of the vote. Somerset’s James Rew finished just behind on 43%. Bracey earned it with both gloves and bat, scoring 1,096 runs with five hundreds and claiming 23 catches and two stumpings.
Somerset’s Craig Overton and Yorkshire’s George Hill take the two all-rounder places, for players who contribute with bat and ball. Overton polled 44% after scoring 734 runs and taking 53 wickets. Hill polled 21% after making 748 runs with six half-centuries and taking 48 wickets at 18.39.
The bowling attack blends pace and spin. Hampshire quick Kyle Abbott was chosen with 30% after taking 64 wickets at just 16.15 runs each. Warwickshire’s Ethan Bamber joined him on 23% as the leading wicket-taker in either division, with 69 wickets including four five-wicket hauls. Nottinghamshire spinner Liam Patterson-White — the slow bowler’s role — took 41% after claiming 42 wickets at 25.
The vote closed a dramatic campaign. Warwickshire sealed a ninth County Championship title and Kent secured promotion, according to BBC Sport’s live coverage on 26 September BBC.
What makes this stand out is the balance. Fans did not just chase big names. They rewarded long summers of heavy scoring, tight bowling and genuine two-way cricket.
